Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team and authorized parties to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled websites along the world wide web (WWW), using multi-mode virtual kiosks (MMVKS) driven by server-side components and managed by product team members

• US 7,904,333 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Perkowski
• Original Assignee: IPF Incorporated
• Inventors: Perkowski, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D
• Application Number:
  US09/695,744
• Time in Patent Office: 3,787 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team and authorized parties to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled WWW-sites along the World Wide Web (WWW), serviced by programmable Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks (MMVKs) driven by server-side components and managed by product management team members and authorized parties. When generated by the first Internet-enabled information server, each MMVK has a graphical user interface (GUI) that is characterized by a plurality of independently programmable display modes. Upon the Web-browser of each consumer encountering an installed MMVK tag along an EC-enabled Website, the corresponding server-side driven MMVK is automatically generated by the first Internet-enabled information server and served to the Web browser for display and review by the consumer.

Claims

1. A Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team and authorized parties to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled Websites along the World Wide Web (WWW), said Web-based EC-enabled shopping network comprising:

a plurality of e-commerce enabled information servers configured to support a plurality of EC-enabled Websites selected from the group consisting of EC-enabled stores and EC-enabled online product catalogs, wherein each said EC-enabled Website includes a plurality of HTML-encoded pages containing one or more of images and text descriptions of consumer products;

a first Web-based subsystem configured to allow members of the consumer product management team for one or more consumer products to create and manage a consumer product information (CPI) link structure for each said consumer product,

wherein said CPI link structure comprises the following items;

(i) a unique product identifier assigned to said consumer product; and

(ii) a set of URLs for a plurality of consumer product information (CPI) resources located on the WWW;

a second Web-based subsystem configured to allow said consumer product management team members associated with said one or more consumer products, to create and deploy one or more Web-based Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks (MMVKs) for said one or more consumer products, being installable in one or more of said HTML-encoded pages, and accessible by consumers using a Web browser;

wherein each said MMVK comprises (i) a computer-executable server-side component stored on a first Internet-enabled information server operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and including code specifying the unique product identifier assigned to said consumer product, and (ii) a MMVK tag embodying a unique URL that references said computer-executable server-side component and embedded within at least one of said HTML-encoded pages located in said EC-enabled Websites; and

wherein each said MMVK has a graphical user interface (GUI) that is characterized by a plurality of independently programmable display modes selected from the group consisting of (i) an advertising display mode for displaying one or more advertising spots, (ii) a promotional display mode for displaying one or more promotional spots, and (iii) a consumer product information (CPI) menu display mode for displaying a set of CPI resources;

a plurality of Web-based information servers operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, storing and configured to serve said one or more advertising spots, said one or more promotional spots and said plurality of CPI resources to said Web browser, for display to the consumer through said plurality of independently programmable display modes of each said MMVK;

a second Internet-enabled information server storing and configured to serve a library of MMVK tags on the WWW, for each said consumer product, for which at least one said MMVK has been created and deployed and corresponding MMVK tag is ready for installation on one or more of said HTML-encoded pages;

wherein said second Internet-enabled information server is configured to allow said product management team members to download at least one MMVK tag and install said at least one MMVK tag in at least one said HTML-encoded page located in at least one said EC-enabled Website;

wherein said set of URLs included with said CPI link structure for said consumer product, specify the location of corresponding CPI resources stored on said Web-based information servers;

a third Web-based subsystem configured to allow the product management team members to independently program at least one of the advertising display mode of each MMVK with one or more advertising spots, and the promotional display mode of said MMVK with one or more promotional spots;

wherein said first Web-based subsystem is configured to allow said product management team members and/or authorized parties to independently program said CPI menu display mode of each said MMVK;

wherein the Web-browser of the consumer is configured to process said installed MMVK tag embedded within at least one said HTML-encoded page;

wherein said first Internet-enabled information server is configured to automatically execute the computer-executable server-side component corresponding to the installed MMVK tag; and

wherein said first Internet-enabled information server is configured to generate and serve the corresponding MMVK to the Web browser, for display by the Web browser and review by the consumer at said EC-enabled Website.

2. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 1, wherein, for each MMVK created and deployed for one said consumer product, the computer-executable server-side component associated with the MMVK comprises said unique product identifier assigned to the consumer product.

3. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 1, wherein, for each MMVK created and deployed for one said consumer product, the computer-executable server-side component associated with the MMVK comprises a consumer product information (CPIR) requesting servlet loaded onto said first Internet-enabled information server.

4. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 1, wherein said CPI link structure further comprises, for each consumer product,

(iii) a Trademark (TM) assigned to said consumer product;

(iv) a Product Descriptor (PD) associated with said consumer product; and

(v) a set of display attributes associated with each CPI resource in said CPI link structure.

5. Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 1, wherein said set of CPI resources are selected from the group consisting of product videos, audio files, product images, product specifications, product advertisements, and product promotions.

6. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 4, wherein said set of display attributes are selected from the group consisting of text for said URLs, graphical icons displayed next to said URLs, and sound files associated with said URLs.

7. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 4, which further comprises a supply-chain information management system configured to import said unique product identifier, said TM and said PD associated with each said CPI link structure, into a database supported on said Web-based EC-enabled shopping network.

8. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 1, wherein said unique product identifier is a Universal Product Number.

9. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 8, wherein said Universal Product Number is selected from the group consisting of a UPC number and a UPC/EAN number.

10. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 1, wherein said consumer product management team members include one or more authorized parties.

11. A Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled Websites along the World Wide Web (WWW), said Web-based EC-enabled shopping network comprising:

a plurality of e-commerce enabled information servers configured to support a plurality of EC-enabled Websites selected from the group consisting of EC-enabled stores and EC-enabled online product catalogs, wherein each said EC-enabled Website includes a plurality of HTML-encoded pages containing one or more of images and text descriptions of consumer products;

a first Web-based subsystem configured to allow members of the consumer product management team for one or more consumer products to create and manage a consumer product information (CPI) link structure for each said consumer product,

wherein said CPI link structure comprises the following items;

(i) a unique product identifier assigned to said consumer product; and

(ii) a set of URLs for a plurality of consumer product information (CPI) resources located on the WWW;

a second Web-based subsystem configured to allow consumer product management team members associated with said one or more consumer products, to create and deploy one or more Web-based Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks (MMVKs) for said one or more consumer products, and being installable in one or more of said HTML-encoded pages, and accessible by consumers using a Web browser;

wherein each said MMVK comprises (i) a computer-executable server-side component stored on a first Internet-enabled information server operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and including code specifying the unique product identifier assigned to said consumer product, and (ii) a MMVK tag embodying a unique URL that references said computer-executable server-side component and embedded within at least one of said HTML-encoded pages located in said EC-enabled Websites; and

wherein each said MMVK has a graphical user interface (GUI) that is characterized by a plurality of independently programmable display modes selected from the group consisting of (i) an advertising display mode for displaying one or more advertising spots, (ii) a promotional display mode for displaying one or more promotional spots, and (iii) a consumer product information (CPI) menu display mode for displaying a set of CPI resources;

a plurality of Web-based information servers operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, storing and configured to serve said one or more advertising spots, said one or more promotional spots and said plurality of CPI resources, to said Web browser, for display to the consumer through said plurality of independently programmable display modes of each said MMVK;

a second Internet-enabled information server storing and configured to serve a library of MMVK tags on the WWW, for each said consumer product, for which at least one said MMVK has been created and deployed and corresponding MMVK tag is ready for installation on one or more of said HTML-encoded pages;

wherein said set of URLs included with said CPI link structure for said consumer product specify the location of corresponding CPI resources stored on one or more of said plurality of Web-based information servers;

wherein said first Web-based subsystem is configured to allow said product management team members to independently program said CPI menu display mode of each said MMVK;

a third Web-based subsystem configured to allow the product management team members to independently program at least one of the advertising display mode of each MMVK with one or more advertising spots, and the promotional display mode of said MMVK with one or more promotional spots;

wherein the Web-browser of the consumer is configured to process said installed MMVK tag embedded within at least one said HTML-encoded page;

wherein said first Internet-enabled information server is configured to automatically execute the computer-executable server-side component corresponding to the installed MMVK tag; and

wherein said first Internet-enabled information server is configured to generate and serve the corresponding MMVK to the Web browser, for display by the Web browser and review by the consumer at the EC-enabled Website.

12. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 11, wherein, for each MMVK created and deployed for one said consumer product, the computer-executable server-side component associated with the MMVK comprises said unique product identifier assigned to the consumer product.

13. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 11, wherein, for each MMVK created and deployed for one said consumer product, the computer-executable server-side component associated with the MMVK comprises a consumer product information (CPIR) requesting servlet loaded onto said first Internet-enabled information server.

14. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 11, wherein said CPI link structure further comprises, for each said consumer product,

(iii) a Trademark (TM) assigned to said consumer product;

(iv) a Product Descriptor (PD) associated with said consumer product; and

(v) a set of display attributes associated with each CPI resource in said CPI link structure.

15. Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 11, wherein said set of CPI resources are selected from the group consisting of product videos, audio files, product images, product specifications, product advertisements, and product promotions.

16. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 14, wherein said set of display attributes are selected from the group consisting of text for said URLs, graphical icons displayed next to said URLs, and sound files associated with said URLs.

17. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 14, which further comprises a supply-chain information management system configured to import said unique product identifier, said TM and said PD associated with each said CPI link structure, into a database supported on said Web-based EC-enabled shopping network.

18. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 11, wherein said unique product identifier is a Universal Product Number.

19. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 18, wherein said Universal Product Number is selected from the group consisting of a UPC number and a UPC/EAN number.

20. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 11, wherein said consumer product management team members include one or more authorized parties.

21. A Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled Websites along the World Wide Web (WWW), said Web-based EC-enabled shopping network comprising:

an e-commerce enabled information server configured to support an EC-enabled Website selected, including a plurality of HTML-encoded pages containing one or more of images and text descriptions of consumer products;

a first Web-based subsystem configured to allow members of the consumer product management team for one or more consumer products to create and manage a consumer product information (CPI) link structure for each said consumer product,

wherein said CPI link structure comprises the following items;

(i) a unique product identifier assigned to said consumer product; and

(ii) a set of URLs for a plurality of consumer product information (CPI) resources located on the WWW;

a second Web-based subsystem configured to allow consumer product management team members associated with said one or more consumer products, to create and deploy one or more Web-based Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks (MMVKs) for said one or more consumer products, and being installable in one or more of said HTML-encoded pages, and accessible by consumers using a Web browser;

wherein each said MMVK comprises (i) a computer-executable server-side component stored on a first Internet-enabled information server operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and including code specifying the unique product identifier assigned to said consumer product, and (ii) a MMVK tag embodying a unique URL that references said computer-executable server-side component and embedded within at least one of said HTML-encoded pages; and

wherein each said MMVK has a graphical user interface (GUI) that is characterized by a plurality of independently programmable display modes selected from the group consisting of (i) an advertising display mode for displaying one or more advertising spots, (ii) a promotional display mode for displaying one or more promotional spots, and (iii) a consumer product information (CPI) menu display mode for displaying a set of CPI resources;

a plurality of Web-based information servers operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, storing and configured to serve said one or more advertising spots, said one or more promotional spots and said plurality of CPI resources, to said Web browser, for display to the consumer through said plurality of independently programmable display modes of each said MMVK;

a second Internet-enabled information server storing and configured to serve a library of MMVK tags on the infrastructure of the Internet, for each said consumer product, for which at least one said MMVK has been created and deployed and corresponding MMVK tag is ready for installation on one or more of said HTML-encoded pages;

wherein said set of URLs included with said CPI link structure for said consumer product, specify the location of corresponding CPI resources stored on one or more of said plurality of Web-based information servers;

wherein said first Web-based subsystem is configured to allow said consumer product management team members to independently program said CPI menu display mode of each said MMVK;

a third Web-based subsystem configured to allow the product management team members to independently program at least one of the advertising display mode of each MMVK with one or more advertising spots, and the promotional display mode of said MMVK with one or more promotional spots;

wherein the Web-browser of the consumer is configured to process said installed MMVK tag embedded within at least one said HTML-encoded page;

wherein said first Internet-enabled information server is configured to automatically execute the computer-executable server-side component corresponding to the installed MMVK tag; and

wherein said first Internet-enabled information server is configured to generate and serve the corresponding MMVK to the Web browser, for display by the Web browser and review by the consumer at said EC-enabled Website.

22. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 21, wherein, for each MMVK created and deployed for one said consumer product, the computer-executable server-side component associated with the MMVK comprises said unique product identifier assigned to the consumer product.

23. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 21, wherein, for each MMVK created and deployed for one said consumer product, the computer-executable server-side component associated with the MMVK comprises a consumer product information (CPIR) requesting servlet loaded onto said first Internet-enabled information server.

24. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 21, wherein said CPI link structure further comprises, for each said consumer product,

(iii) a Trademark (TM) assigned to said consumer product;

(iv) a Product Descriptor (PD) associated with said consumer product; and

(v) a set of display attributes associated with each CPI resource in said CPI link structure.

25. Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 21, wherein said set of CPI resources are selected from the group consisting of product videos, audio files, product images, product specifications, product advertisements, and product promotions.

26. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 24, wherein said set of display attributes are selected from the group consisting of text for said URLs, graphical icons displayed next to said URLs, and sound files associated with said URLs.

27. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 24, which further comprises a supply-chain information management system configured to import said unique product identifier, said TM and said PD associated with each said CPI link structure, into a database supported on said Web-based EC-enabled shopping network.

28. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 21, wherein said unique product identifier is a Universal Product Number.

29. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 28, wherein said Universal Product Number is selected from the group consisting of a UPC number and a UPC/EAN number.

30. The Web-based EC-enabled shopping network of claim 21, wherein said consumer product management team members include one or more authorized parties.